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Mistral Prodigy Comp 8.5 Rig - Worst Camber Inducers Ever?
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d0uglass



Joined: 28 May 2004
Posts: 1286
Location: Bonita Springs, Florida

PostPosted: Mon Jan 02, 2017 5:03 pm    Post subject: Mistral Prodigy Comp 8.5 Rig - Worst Camber Inducers Ever? Reply with quote

I just got a barely-used complete Mistral Prodigy Comp board and rig for $200 from a local thrift store. At that price I reckon it was a steal for the board alone, which has a functioning mast track, intact daggerboard gasket, carbon daggerboard, 6 footstraps, 50 cm powerbox fin, etc.

The Rig is a pain, though. It has two camber inducers that are a mix of cloth straps and plastic bracers; similar to the camber inducers on an Ezzy Infinity. Also like on an Ezzy, you're supposed to pop the cams on after you downhaul, and there are little zippers over the cams to let you access them. But unlike on an Ezzy, you can't de-tension the battens, so it's very difficult to pop the cams on, and they put a lot of stress on the mast sleeve and zippers when rigging and de-rigging. I'm using the proper mast, boom, etc.

Did any of you used to sail the 8.5 prodigy rig, and do you have any advice on what the easiest way to rig it is? Thanks.

PS- I think this annoying rig, in itself, could have sunk the prodigy one-design class. If they had used a camless freerace rig like they have for the Kona one design class, they'd have been a lot better off.

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swchandler



Joined: 08 Nov 1993
Posts: 10588

PostPosted: Mon Jan 02, 2017 5:31 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I don't know if it would help, but I would recommend downhauling only about 30%, fasten the boom and outhaul fully, and then attach the cams. The downside is having to release the outhaul, reposition the boom downward to accommodate the correct final downhaul, and then add the proper outhaul. This is how my old Windwing 4 camber Race sails used to work. However, the cams were tethered to the sail's inside luff, so as you added downhauled, the cams would be pulled down the mast. Rigging is fairly quick and easy after you get the extra steps down. De-rigging is just the opposite steps, and following it makes detaching the cambers much easier with less wear and tear to everything.

For you, I guess a lot will depend on how well the cambers move once attached. If a lot of movement is difficult, you can play how much initial downhaul you need to improve the camber attachment process.
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adywind



Joined: 08 Jan 2012
Posts: 665

PostPosted: Mon Jan 02, 2017 5:54 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Or downhaul to max. Outhaul to max. Release the downhaul completely/while keeping the rig outhauled/. Popp the cams on. Downhaul to the desired level. Outhaul to the desired level. Thats how I used to rig a 3 cambered on a very stiff mast.
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joethewindsufa



Joined: 10 Oct 2010
Posts: 1190
Location: Montréal

PostPosted: Mon Jan 02, 2017 6:30 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Always found it ODD that narrow luff cambered sails were rigged with cambers OFF.
Obviously what is done with wide luff race sails ...
Put a post together some time ago about cambered sails ...

http://joewindsurfer.blogspot.ca/2013/06/rigging-cambered-race-sail.html

used to suggest cambered over 7-oh, but NOT so much any more !!!
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NOVAAN



Joined: 28 Sep 1994
Posts: 1544

PostPosted: Mon Jan 02, 2017 11:08 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Its not that hard. Downhaul just until the mast starts to bend. Very little tension. Out haul all the way. Then open the zippers and pop the cambers on.
Downhaul to your settings...
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d0uglass



Joined: 28 May 2004
Posts: 1286
Location: Bonita Springs, Florida

PostPosted: Mon Jan 02, 2017 11:27 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

NOVAAN wrote:
Its not that hard. Downhaul just until the mast starts to bend. Very little tension. Out haul all the way. Then open the zippers and pop the cambers on.
Downhaul to your settings...


Ok, that's good advice. Same thing in reverse when de-rigging? I'm not used to letting the downhaul out before the outhaul.

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jingebritsen



Joined: 21 Aug 2002
Posts: 3371

PostPosted: Tue Jan 03, 2017 3:44 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

not defending cam sails, don't like them much myself.

down hauled tons for boom attachment not necessarily needed.

out haul all the way, as mentioned above.

sail worx fine.

what killed the prodigy was our culture, AND aggressive outboard straps.

I think the board is brilliant

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DelCarpenter



Joined: 06 Nov 2008
Posts: 499
Location: Cedar Falls, IA

PostPosted: Tue Jan 03, 2017 8:01 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quoting Nathaniae Siddall from a reply to a similar question about a Prodigy sail:

"Now, about the sail. The Comp 8.5 is a nice sail, with a lot of range, but
it is a little tricky to rig--and it is much too big for a beginner. I'd
suggest getting a floppy, unbattened sail, say 5.5 or so to learn with;
another option would be to get a battened 6.5 sail, which would be harder
for the first uphauls, but more useful in the future for sailing in high
wind. Ask around in your area, and you can probably find something cheap.

When you are ready to use the 8.5, here's how you rig it. Thread the mast
into the luff sleeve, sliding it underneath the cambers ( ie camber
inducers, although batten abutment is not a bad term), with the camber
pocket zippers open. Apply a little downhaul. Put the boom on, and apply
full outhaul. Now you will be able to pop the cambers onto the mast, by
pushing down with the heel of your hand on the batten near the past, and
pushing the camber onto the mast with the other hand. (If you still have
trouble, you may need to loosen the batten tension, which is done with a hex
key at the leech end.) Downhaul the rest of the way, keeping an eye on the
cambers to make sure they are not binding on the mast and getting pulled out
of alignment. You'll need all your strength to fully downhaul this sail, or
a tool. The upper part of the leech should be a bit loose. Loose and
floppy a third of the way down or more, in strong wind. When you derig the
sail, again pay attention to the cambers and make sure they don't get pulled
up, which can tear the attachement sleeve.

Good luck, and have fun."
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boardsurfr



Joined: 23 Aug 2001
Posts: 1266

PostPosted: Tue Jan 03, 2017 10:53 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

James, I can't give you advice about this specific sail, but you might find my experience with cams useful, anyway.

I really struggled to get the cams on with the first cam sails I bought maybe 6 years ago, even when following whatever written or video instructions I found. But then I met a few racers who'd rig two 4-cam sails in the time I rig my favorite non-cam (and I rig reasonably fast). They shared a few of their tricks with me. I can now rig and de-rig my newest 4-cam race sail at least as fast as my freeride sails, and de-rig it faster.

Different cambered sails will require different tricks, but once you find out what they are, rigging it should be painless. Sounds like some of the others already gave you specific tips for your sail, which also work for well for other cam sails.

The one cam sail that rigs quite differently is the Maui Sails TR series. Downhaul until you have about 8-10 cm line; pop the cams on, with the middle cams first (very easy). Then put the boom on. De-rig: take the boom off, loosen the downhaul, the cams will pop automatically. Very easy. But this might break cams on on other sails, so I'm not saying you should try it.
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NOVAAN



Joined: 28 Sep 1994
Posts: 1544

PostPosted: Wed Jan 04, 2017 3:23 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

This sail rigs just like the Ezzy infinity or newer lion. Go to the ezzy site for a detailed rigging video...Its really easy. I second you getting a smaller sail to learn on..
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